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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Frain(e, Frane, v. Also: frayn(e. [ME. frayn(e, frain(e, freine(n, OE. freᵹnan, ON. fregna. Used only in poetry.]

1. tr. To ask (one) about or for something. a1400 Leg. S. vi. 32.
Oure lord … Hym met, & hym fraynit thane Quhat he soucht Ib. 538.
The kynge hyr this can frane ‘Quhar has thu bene?’ c1450-2 Howlat 262.
Thir fowlis he franyt Of thair couusall in this cais

2. To ask, enquire (how, quhat, quhare, etc.). Also with at a person.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xl. 196.
His frendis … hou he had faryne caue frayne c1420 Wynt. iii. 410.
Scho fraynyde fast off his wychtnes, Quhar in it stude a1500 Prestis of Peblis 537.
To him came he … , and can fraine Quhat ailit him a1570-86 Maitl. F. xxxv. 13.
[He] fast at him did fraine quhy he sa sadlie went(b) a1400 Leg. S. xl. 321.
Thane franit hire lorde … Quha sic thing had with hir done Ib. xlviii. 69.
Scho quhat he ves at hyme can frane 1501 Douglas Pal. Hon. iii. 674.
Full fast At hir I franit Quhat folk thay war c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxvi. 79.
Quhen it dois cum all men dois frane 1535 Stewart 13714.
He franit fast quhair that tha sould be fund a1540 Freiris Berw. 577.
Freir Robert franyt at him fast, Quhat ailit him

b. intr. To make inquiry. c1420 Wynt. iii. 376.
Quhen Dalyda made hyr to frayne Off the mater off his pyth a1500 Rauf C. 225.
He began to frane farther mair a1500 Prestis of Peblis 576.
Full fast than for his fule frainit he 1513 Doug. vii. vii. 116.
He … all enragit can eftir harnes frane Ib. x. iii. 102.
Now speris he, franand with all hys myght, To knaw [etc.] a1568 Scott xxxiv. 45.
Ȝe preiche, ȝe fleich, ȝe frane

3. To request. a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxix. 22.
The thing quhilk thow require And franis fast grantit to be